Pages

Join Romance Giveaways for all Giveaway Information

Meet Mel Teshco, and a Giveaway!

Thanks Nas for inviting me to your blog today!

I thought instead of droning on about my latest book (as much as I’d love to!! LOL) I’d talk a little about Fiji. Particularly since I visited there not all that long ago and I was able to meet the very lovely Nas for a brief time before having to fly back to Australia.

The very first thing I noticed about Fijian people? Their amazingly friendly natures and innate charm. I wasn’t alone in thinking I’d never met happier people as a whole–anywhere.

Fiji itself? The roads are, well…bad, (I was told the maximum speed limit is 80km’s) and many of the people live in rundown shanties. And yes, these are the very same people who are always smiling. It really puts into perspective how money really doesn’t make a person happy. (Though yes, it sure does help pay the bills!! LOL)

Mel's family at the Airport with Nas

I was lucky enough to visit Fiji with my mother and my two eldest daughters (my husband has a very real fear of flying) where we stayed at the beautiful Outrigger resort. At the Outrigger absolutely everyone is greeted with a very loud and long “BULA” (Hello. Welcome. Good day) at the front gates…this is also repeated anytime you happen to leave. I don’t know about anyone else, but this simple gesture left my family beaming. We often remarked the western culture could learn a lot from Fijians in making a complete stranger feel welcome.

The outrigger itself was beautiful. The gardens were spectacular and my girls made some very real friends with some of the local boys there, who were nothing but gentlemanly. And oh, the pawpaw (papaya) there has a reddish tinge and is a totally different flavor to here in Australia. OMG yum!! Is all I can say!!

Mel's Daughters

While we were there we went on a couple of day trips. The River Safari was my fav (though yes, my youngest daughter fainted after seeing someone with a bloody head wound…but that’s another story). After about a 30 minute speedy river boat trip (great way to sightsee) we stopped at a village. It was here we got to see the way the local people lived — very poorly, and yet all of them healthy and happy. We sampled some of their food (not to my taste, but again, the pawpaw was delish) and then did some dancing. My daughters were very popular with the village men LOL!! Seriously though, they were all charming and full of smiles, considering they were allowing strangers into their lives, if only for a short time.

Mel at Nas's House

I could go on, but I won’t make this book length!! I just have to say, Fiji was a brilliant place to visit and I highly recommend it! You might even get a chance to meet Nas and her family!! =)

Never been to Australia? I’d love to give away a copy of any one of my Ellora’s Cave books, all of which are set somewhere in my homeland. Just tell me if you’ve ever been to Fiji—or Australia—and if not what’s your favourite holiday destination?

53 comments:

Isn't it lovely how the folks in the smaller communities and more isolated spots of the world seem (to those of us from larger places, at least) to remain so unspoiled and friendly? I am finding the same thing here in Bermuda, though they do have quite a high standard of living here. It amazes me how they're all so friendly to the mobs of tourists over-running the place on a weekly schedule coinciding with the cruise ship's arrival.

Fiji sounds lovely. I have always been fascinated by Australia, but also more than a little terrified by it! Those nature documentaries make it sound like you can't take a step without encountering something so poisonous it not only kills you, but it can time-travel and kill your grandparents, too!

My favorite destination place is Portugal. My husband is from there, which is how I started going, but it's lovely. Being American, I'm naturally amazed by all manner of ancient ruins. I feel as though I walk about with my jaw hanging open the whole time.

I would love to visit Fiji just from this description alone. It sounds like a wonderful place to be.

I haven't been to Australia or Fiji, though, or anywhere outside of the US. I plan on taking a trip to Ireland as soon as I'm able, but favorite holiday destination would probably be anywhere with a nice beach. I love the ocean so much.

Nas, What a lovely place for you to live and thank you Mel for describing it.I've never been to Fiji or Australia but it's always interesting to see photos of them. It looks like your daughters enjoyed their trip immensely.Have one fabulous week.Manzanita@Wannabuyaduck

Amalie, Australia isn't all that bad, you'd be lucky to see a snake in the towns, it's only in the rural areas you encounter them. I live on 3 acres and the first year I was here I had 3 poisonous snakes come inside (one big brown snake tried to strike me, only because it was cornered)

Portugal - I'd so love to go there! Actually my dream is to visit Europe, and esp germany and czech where my grandparents and mother lived.

Oooh I wanna go now! Especially to meet Nas. But seriously Fiji looks absolutely beautiful and sounds so well 'happy'. So glad you had a much deserved and fabulous holiday!

I've never been to Fiji but would love to one day and I live in Australia so can't really claim that as my special holiday spot. So far my favourite place in the world was Salzburg in Vienna. Absolutely beautiful. And I'm VERY fond of Queenstown in NZ too :)

A chance to visit Fiji and meet Nas then return to Australia, life doesn't get much better than that! In addition to learning more about both of these places, I'd also love to see the winegrape growing regions of Italy, France, Germany and Spain as well as Argentina. But then again I'd also see Ireland, Wales and Scotland. Oh boy, I'd better stop thinking about this!

You make me want to drop everything and go to Fiji. I've never been but have been asked to do a week-long romance writer's retreat at Savu Savu in October next year, I can't wait. Well I can, I want to lose half my bodyweight before then LOL. You and everyone else comments on the warmth and friendliness of the people. Proves material possessions aren't everything, doesn't it?

Valerie, you have to inform me when you come! Nadi is the International gateway, so probably you'll come through Nadi and take a domestic flight to Savusavu (where The Bachelorette final episodes were shot!)and I live in Nadi, few minutes from the airport actually!

And remember, open house to all friends if anyone ever comes this way!

J.L the gardens at the Outrigger were amazing. And oh, you've got to go on a holiday!My tip is to sacrifice something unimportant (like one takeaway a week) and putting even just 20 dollars a week aside.

Hi Mel, it's so great that you enjoyed your visit to my homeland, yes i'm from Fiji. I agree, its a beautiful country and staying at the Outrigger is a fab experience. It is one of the most beautiful resorts on the mainland. I'd recommend that the next time you come to Fiji to stay at one of the island resorts. That's a different experience altogether.

I have been to Australia a couple of times and have enjoyed it immensely. I remember the last we went to Oz we took a road trip from Sydney till Brisbane and spent a couple of days in the Gold Coast enjoying all the theme park. I had so much fun at Dreamworld.

Will do, Nas, would be lovely. I do go through Nadi I'm booked for October 13 to 20 at Daku Resort here http://www.paradisecourses.com Can't imagine a more dreamy week than talking writing in the morning and sightseeing in the afternoons. Hey, you should come! We could have a lovely time.

Hi Mel,Lovely to see you here! I was so envious of you going to Fiji and meeting up with my gorgeous friend, Nas (Hi Nas!). What a sweetheart.

I was lucky enough to visit Fiji when on a cruise with my girlfriend - that was many moons ago and we visited Suva (which smelled of coconuts) and Latouka - both places were just gorgeous and filled with Frangipani and lots of colourful flowers. The people were friendly and beautiful. We were both wide eyed and had never been away on a holiday without our parents. We had such a ball.

As for Australia - well I was born here :) though I am *Made in Italy* - just nor *Fully Imported*. Hugs to you both